Search - Black Cat, Vol. 1 - The Cat Out of the Bag on DVD

Brad S. (Snibot) from DALLAS, TX
Reviewed on 1/4/2010...

Interesting series, the main characters are fascinating but remain mysterious. The first four episodes were gripping, though they had a few "oh please." moments (what series doesn't though)
excellent artwork, even on the backgrounds, has an interesting storyline; all and all it is a solid anime series, only the end will tell if it goes into the weird black hole annoying psychobabble like so many before it.

BLACK CAT CROSSES PATH WITH DEATH

Sesho | Pasadena, TX USA | 01/16/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Train Heartnet, better known as "The Black Cat", is a killer for the Chronos organization which ironically fancies itself as a force for justice in an otherwise unjust world. He takes on any job he is assigned, even if it means killing women and children. He's just that kind of a guy. But he's starting to question the meaning of it all, especially after he meets a beautiful kimono clad girl singing from her heart on the rooftops. She too carries a pistol, but instead of being a assassin, she's a "Sweeper", a bounty hunter, but she chooses never to kill her prey. She encourages Train to listen to his heart and do what HE wants to do, instead of just following orders blindly. There's also another sweeper in town, a white suited eye patch wearing guy named Sven, who can see the future with his covered eye. He keeps on crossing paths with Train because they're looking for the same people. But Sven wants to bring them in alive, not dead. When Sven agrees to rescue the kidnapped little sister of a woman he meets, he soon learns that Train is after the sister too...to kill her!



While I have not read the original manga version of this anime, I was aware of it, and was gladly surprised by some of the improvements on the character designs, especially the deletion of the fruity looking collar bell that Train wears in the manga. Train comes across as a very complicated and complex character, haunted by the decision to become an assassin when he was a child. He has been so numbed to his work, that he has become more like a robot than a man. It's nice to see a woman begin to turn him from that path, which makes it a bit more grown up than the usual Shonen Jump title. Sven is pretty much the lamebrain comedy relief of the piece, but he has his heroic moments as well. For most of this volume Train is the villain, but we see glimmers that he is set to return to the side of good. The animation was pretty good, but the character designs varied from average to poor, which was no fault of the anime staff, but of the manga-ka. For example, Train's pistol simply looks like the artist drew it still in the holster and thought this looked cool and inventive, when it just makes it look lazy. It would seem like you could at least design a cool-looking gun for your main character! I really liked this first volume and will continue watching. It also made me want to read the manga as well."

Kick Butt

O.J. Searcy | CO, USA | 10/23/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I enoyed whole series. Train Heartnet can kick butt and take names. Loved the soundtrack. When Train decides to go his on way all bets are off. Because of an assignment that he does not complete it sets off a set of events that have a sweet ending. Enjoy"